Juniors in Oceania Will Gain Access To International Badminton Through Development Opportunity

A youth development program for the Pacific countries is being incorporated by Badminton Oceania into this seven-day, two-tournament event, in anticipation of the VICTOR Oceania Championships 2024, which will give young people an introduction to the world of international badminton.The VICTOR Oceania Championships 2024 are a badminton festival that features an individual competition, a men's and women's team event, and a TOTALENERGIES BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals in May that will be held in China for the victors.  Over 212 players and support personnel from eight Oceania nations will compete in Geelong from February 12–18. The Pacific u17 Invitation Team Challenge and training camp will take place concurrently with the VICTOR Oceania Championships.  The Pacific u15 Invitation Team Challenge and development camp held in Auckland in 2023 served as the impetus for the Badminton Oceania Tier 3 Player Development Programme for 2024, which focuses on providing future Pacific players with this opportunity.Players have been training in-country ahead of the training camp and competition in February; over 60% of the 2024 participants were a part of the Auckland 2023 program.  This is also a chance to help prepare for the Oceania Junior Championships in 2025 and the World Junior Championships in 2024, which many of the participating nations are aiming for.Two days before the u17 Pacific Challenge, teams and players from the Cook Islands, Fiji, Guam, New Caledonia, Northern Marianas, and Tahiti will participate in the development camp along with their managers and coaches.  Both on-court and off-court activities will be part of the camp, including an integrity session that highlights the Player Education - Dual Career Program of the Badminton World Federation.A youth development program for the Pacific countries is being incorporated by Badminton Oceania into this seven-day, two-tournament event, in anticipation of the VICTOR Oceania Championships 2024, which will give young people an introduction to the world of international badminton.  

By2024, Bhavish Aggarwals AI business Krutrim will have produced Indias first unicorn.

Bhavish Aggarwal, the creator of Ola, has raised $50 million at a $1 billion valuation for his artificial intelligence business, Krutrim.The founder of Ola, Bhavish Aggarwal, announced that his AI business, Krutrim, has raised $50 million at a $1 billion value. The first AI stratum in India to achieve unicorn status is currently Krutrim.One of the investors in the most recent investment round for Krutrim is Matrix Partners India. It's interesting to note that, barely a month after launching as a huge language AI model, Krutrim has reached billion-dollar valuation.According to a corporate blog post, Krutrim, which translates to "artificial" in Sanskrit, is also building data centers throughout the nation with the goal of establishing a supercomputer ecosystem for AI development in India. Next month, the business intends to release a beta version of its self-titled chatbot for consumer use. In the upcoming months, Krutrim will also make APIs available to developers and businesses.One of the principal backers of Aggarwal's other two firms, Ola and Ola Electric, is Matrix Partners.Aggarwal said in a press release, "We are thrilled to announce the successful closure of our first funding round, which not only validates the potential of Krutrim’s innovative AI solutions but also underscores the confidence investors have in our ability to drive meaningful change out of India for the world."The founder of Ola, Bhavish Aggarwal, announced that his AI business, Krutrim, has raised $50 million at a $1 billion value. The first AI stratum in India to achieve unicorn status is currently Krutrim. One of the investors in the most recent investment round for Krutrim is Matrix Partners India.After a $50 million fundraising round led by a group of investors that included Matrix Partners India, Bhavish Aggarwal, the creator of Ola, launched his third firm, Krutrim, which became the first AI unicorn in India. Additionally, the fundraising round creates the first Indian unicorn, Krutrim AI 2024.  

Binny Bansal leaves Flipkart formally

Binny Bansal, a co-founder of Flipkart, has left the board of the online retailer after more than 16 years of employment. Entrackr was informed of the development by a Flipkart representative."I am pleased with the accomplishments made by the Flipkart Group in the last 16 years. With the knowledge that Flipkart is in capable hands and is in a solid position with a strong leadership team and a clear route forward, I have made the decision to stand down. In a statement, Bansal said, "I remain a strong supporter of the business and I wish the team the best of luck as they continue to transform experiences for customers."Walmart paid $3.5 billion to Binny Bansal, Accel Partners, and Tiger Global for the remaining Flipkart shares in September 2023. Estimates indicate that Bansal gained $650 million after selling his whole interest for $35 billion.According to an ET story, he may have resigned from the company's board due to a disagreement with his new e-commerce business.Bansal launched OppDoor, a new company, earlier this month with the goal of offering end-to-end solutions to e-commerce companies. OppDoor is reportedly going to target e-commerce businesses in the US, Canada, Mexico, the UK, Germany, Singapore, Japan, and Australia at first. Walmart, Flipkart's parent firm, contributed an additional $600 million, or Rs 5,000 crore, to the company last month. In this round, the company is trying to raise $1 billion. The online retailer made headlines as well for letting go of over a thousand workers. The company's CEO, Kalyan Krishnamurthy, stated during a recent town hall meeting that while the company is almost profitable, an initial public offering (IPO) is not planned for 2024.As you may remember, Bansal left his role as CEO of the Flipkart Group in 2018. Following an independent investigation into a personal conduct claim by Walmart and Flipkart, he resigned. Despite his resignation, Bansal remained a member of the board.After more than 16 years, co-founder of Flipkart Binny Bansal has formally left the board of the e-commerce platform. The other co-founder, Sachin Bansal, departed the board in 2018. Sachin started the financial services company Navi after departing from Flipkart.  

Day 2 Box Office Collection for Fighter: Deepika Padukone and Hrithik Roshans eyes The ₹100 crore club

Day 2 of Fighter Box Office Collection: The film, starring Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone, was released on January 25, one day ahead of Republic Day. During the second day of the national holiday, the movie gained momentum and earned over 1.5 times its opening day total.During its two-day run in theaters across all languages, "Fighter" brought in a net collection of ₹61.5 crore in India, according to film industry tracker Sacnilk. On Republic Day, the movie earned ₹39 crore in net revenue. On the day of its release, it brought in ₹22.5 crore in India across all languages.Fighter Box Office Collection Day 2: During its two days in theaters, the movie "Fighter" has made a net collection of ₹61.5 crore in India. On Friday, its Hindi version had an overall occupancy rate of 41.57%.After making a reasonable (albeit not very impressive) Rs 24 crore on the first day, the big-budget Hrithik Roshan flick Fighter truly took off on the second day. Due to favorable buzz about the film's airborne action sequences, Fighter's profits on its second day of release—which fell on Republic Day holiday—are predicted to have soared by more than 70%. This raises the domestic two-day total of the film to Rs 61 crore. The anticipated amount for the domestic launch weekend is between Rs 120 crore and Rs 150 crore.Siddharth Anand's patriotic action film Fighter follows the lives of a few Air Force fighter pilots during a conflict. Supporting roles go to Karan Singh Grover and Akshay Oberoi in addition to Deepika Padukone and Anil Kapoor. According to Sacnilk, Fighter reported occupancy rates of 41% for the 2D standard version and 42% for the 3D edition. For both of the film versions, evening performances drew the majority of viewers. Chennai recorded occupancy of over 80% of its capacity, but Mumbai and the Delhi NCR area reported occupancy of roughly 50%. Fighter is not being marketed as a pan-Indian film, despite current trends. The first-day box office receipts for the film did not quite match the high expectations that Hrithik has set for himself recently (his two previous films with Siddharth Anand had larger debuts); nonetheless, they did signify a return to form for the actor, who was thought to have underperformed in his last film, Vikram Vedha. Fighter will beat the roughly Rs 80 crore that Vikram Vedha completed its domestic run with on day three alone.War remains Hrithik Roshan's highest-grossing movie to date, taking in over Rs 470 crore worldwide after earning Rs 53 crore the previous year. After its premiere at Rs 27 crore, Bang Bang made over Rs 350 crore globally. Siddharth, Deepika, and Anil Kapoor recently wrapped their successful film projects. The most recent film in which Anil appeared was the controversial hit Animal, whereas Siddharth and Deepika worked together in the Shah Rukh Khan movie Pathaan.  

Is Bobby Deol, the birthday boy, able to rule over companies this year?

We are living through a Bobby Deol comeback. We consulted experts on his 55th birthday to see if his growing fame would allow him to add some brands to his collection this year.The foot-tapping song "Jamal kudu" was drowned out by a chorus of whistles and hoots when Bobby Deol made an appearance in the Sandeep Reddy Vanga film Animal, which was running a little over two hours.Despite having no dialogue in the movie, Bobby, who played the silent adversary Abrar Haque, managed to steal the show—even from Ranbir Kapoor, the leading man, if we may say so. The actor is still popular today, as seen by the large number of fan-made edits and Instagram reels.The Bobby Deol comeback is now complete with Animal, although it took 28 years to develop following his unremarkable 1995 feature Barsat premiere.Years ago, the story was very different. Bobby's career appeared to plateau in the early 2010s following a string of ups and downs, and it required a scandal to catapult him back into the public eye.He was given the sarcastic moniker "Lord Bobby" and a tribe of mock followers known as Boobians after a DJing disaster in 2015 that somehow worked in his favor. "Well, I'm really appreciative of that title. People used to be unaware of me, but after hearing my songs, they started creating memes based on them. He once said to a media outlet, "Those memes eventually became so popular that people started thinking about Bobby Deol."Memes helped Bobby stay current and garnered enough attention for him to land a part in MX Player's Ashram, for which he received a lot of praise.Today is Bobby's 55th birthday. We questioned experts on his birthday about whether his growing fame would allow him to add some brands to his portfolio this year. Appropriate for endorsements? Bobby has only a few unremarkable companies to his credit and his endorsement career is nothing to write home about thus far. Considering his three decades in the profession, it's particularly startling. After searching the internet, we were able to locate a few uncommon advertisements featuring Bobby Deol.However, Brand Bobby seems to be in terrific shape and has some advantages considering his recent surge in popularity. "He is an amazing figure because he overcame all obstacles to make a successful comeback. He had a little part and minimal screen time, and he didn't even have any conversation, but he made the most of it. "During the process, he served as a reminder that a single, well-utilized opportunity can truly mean the difference between hardship and prosperity," says Nisha Sampath, a brand strategist and the creator of Bright Angles Consulting LLP. According to Pooja Choudhury, Senior Copywriter (Entertainment), White Rivers Media, "he's a celeb who is in sync with the times." "He's open to opportunities and willing to try new things in his responsibilities. He's a highly malleable artist who can have a big impact on the audience in his own unique way because of all these qualities, she continues. Given these advantages, businesses would want to work with him, Sampath added, especially while his most recent songs are still fresh in fans' minds. "But long-term collaborations will depend on his ability to continue his comeback journey and continue delivering memorable performances," she stated.with only one tap!" claimed Choudhury. Sampath notices motorbikes, SUVs, and designer labels in his  

Lumen Supports Runway to Carry Out Change

                Lumen Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: LUMN) (hereinafter referred to as "Lumen" or the "Company") announced today that it has reached a revised and restated transaction support agreement ("TSA") with a broader set of creditors. These creditors now account for more than $12.5 billion of the Company and its subsidiaries' outstanding debt and commitments, as well as more than 70% of the total amount of Lumen and Level 3 debt that is maturing through 2027.Compared to the agreement originally announced on October 31, 2023, a far bigger group of creditors covering a greater portion of Lumen's capital structure supports the updated TSA announced today. Among other things, the TSA will give the Company access to a new revolving credit facility with an estimated value of $1 billion, extend debt maturities to largely 2029 and beyond, and offer $1.325 billion in new long-term debt financing. Lumen anticipates fulfilling the few remaining closing conditions in order to finalize the transactions that the TSA has in mind by the first quarter of 2024. The wide support shown by stakeholders and creditors for Lumen's growth strategy and turnaround plan is evident across the company's capital structure."This deal gives the company a significant window of opportunity to meet its capital structure and financial objectives, marking another encouraging development in the Lumen turnaround story. When the TSA transactions are finalized, Lumen will have a great deal of flexibility as we carry out our transformational plan to disrupt the telecom industry, stated Lumen's president and chief executive officer, Kate Johnson.In conjunction with the completion of such transactions, Lumen intends to make certain term loan transactions available to all holders. In accordance with Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), the transactions pertaining to certain notes of the Company and Level 3 will be carried out through private negotiation. In connection with the completion of such transactions, the Company does not intend to make such transactions available to all holders. After the TSA transactions are completed, Lumen may evaluate possible follow-on transactions with debt that is not participating. The Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, which was submitted to the SEC today, and the investor relations page of Lumen, located at https://ir.lumen.com, both contain more information. The Company's financial advisor was Guggenheim Securities, LLC, and its legal advisor was Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz.Concerning Lumen Technologies Worlds are connected via Lumen. By swiftly, securely, and easily connecting people, data, and applications, we are sparking growth. At Lumen, we leverage the strength of our network in all we do. Our capabilities span across metro connectivity, long-haul data transfer, edge cloud, security, and managed services to fulfill the demands of our clients both now and in the future.  

By2029, the media, advertising, and entertainment vertical will represent a $17.9 billion opportunity.

ResearchAndMarkets.com now offers the "Generative AI Market by Technology, Component, Application, Industry Vertical, and Region 2024-2029" report.The expected effects of the generative AI industry are evaluated in this research across multiple domains, such as ChatGPT in software, general-purpose platforms, IoT systems, and embedded consumer products. In addition to discussing the potential applications and use cases in several business verticals, the research also examines the underlying relationship between generative AI and AGI, ASI, and strong AI, as well as the influence of enabling technologies like 5G, business 4.0, MEC, self-driven networks, and others.A few of the report's findings: Through 2029, North America will dominate the worldwide generative AI market. Through 2029, the top industry vertical for generative AI will be healthcare. Through 2029, API-enabled solutions will have the fastest rate of growth (CAGR of 47%). By 2029, generative AI services will have grown to a $2.5 billion market at a 43.9% CAGR. By 2029, the media, advertising, and entertainment sector will represent a $17.9 billion potential.Artificial intelligence that can create unique and novel data or content, including literature, music, or graphics, is known as generative AI. Generative AI use algorithms to produce new data that did not previously exist, in contrast to other forms of AI that are intended to identify and categorize existing data. In order to accomplish this, the data is analyzed for patterns and relationships, and new content is created in response to those patterns.New models and architectures are being developed to enhance the diversity and quality of generated content as a result of the rapid advancement of technology. The use of technologies like GANs, transformers, and VAEs made it possible to create generative models that are more intricate and lifelike. To guarantee the moral and equitable use of technology, there were still issues to be resolved in areas like bias and data privacy.The growing requirement for automation and the expanding use of generative AI across a range of industries are driving the industry. Large datasets and the development of deep learning algorithms have also contributed to the market's expansion.  

A Thai court dismisses a politician; the partys future is yet unknown.

Despite avoiding disqualification from politics, a political leader in Thailand who guided his party to an unexpected electoral victory amid concerns of upending the nation's strong conservative establishment is still in doubt about his own and his party's political future.   On Wednesday, Pita Limjaroenrat, 43, was found not guilty of violating election laws by running for office while owning stock in a media company, the now-defunct broadcaster iTV, according to a case dismissed by Thailand's Constitutional Court.Parliamentarians are not permitted to own stock in media companies under Thai law. Pita was granted a majority decision by eight of the nine judges on the panel, stating that he had not broken the constitution because iTV had not been in operation since 2007, prior to his application for the party-list candidacy. This decision is one of two much awaited rulings against Pita and the progressive Move Forward Party that may lead to the dissolution of Thailand's most successful party in the most recent election, as well as the imposition of bans and criminal charges against its leaders.   Pita told reporters outside the courtroom following Wednesday's verdict that he will keep working for the people and that he hopes to return to his parliamentary duties "as soon as possible." I'll be there whenever I'm permitted entry," he declared.   Cheering "PM Pita," a reference to his candidacy for prime minister, supporters outside the court declared that justice had been served. While some carried signs that said, "We will always support the party," others made fun of the Election Commission for bringing the matter before the judge. Bangkok resident Supravee Sansuk, 63, said she is once again confident in the Thai legal system as a result of the outcome.   "I was concerned that the decision would go the other way. I was therefore ecstatic to hear the good news. Pita was innocent from the start, and the court shouldn't have been notified of this case,

The 40-year-old mans body is maintained by this 93-year-old man. Understand His Secret

The ninety-three-year-old Irishman Richard Morgan is changing the definition of aging gracefully. He only started rowing in his 70s, but since then, he has won four indoor rowing championships and continues to astound scientists with his youthful body and heart. Because of his incredible journey toward fitness, Mr. Morgan is the focus of a ground-breaking study on healthy aging. His 80% muscle mass and heart function, which are similar to those of a forty-year-old, have researchers stumped. This ageless oarsman is an inspiration to us all, proving that it's never too late to embrace an active lifestyle and reap the rewards of physical fitness.   The analysis looked at his diet, training regimen, and general health and was published in the Journal of Applied Physiology last month.The physiological, performance, dietary, and training characteristics of Mr. Morgan were evaluated in this study. Bioelectrical impedance was used to determine body composition. Heart rate, respiration, oxygen uptake, and carbon dioxide production were monitored both during a rest period and a 2,000-meter time trial on a rowing ergometer.   The former baker told the Irish Examiner that he had never played sports before he began regular exercise at the age of 73.   Regarding his workout regimen, Morgan told the Washington Post, "I started from nowhere." A few days later he "suddenly realized there was a lot of pleasure in doing this."According to the research, maintaining a regular fitness regimen can help prevent the effects of aging, even though it won't turn back time.   The four main components of Mr. Morgan's fitness regimen are weight training, varied training, consistency, and a high-protein diet.    

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Australias Glenn Maxwell was hospitalized

"Although Glenn Maxwell is an essential component of Australia's white-ball team, head coach Andrew McDonald stated that he needs to ""hold up his end of the bargain"" in light of his ""less than ideal"" Adelaide incident. Maxwell was admitted to the Adelaide hospital last week after becoming intoxicated and passing out at a ""Six and Out"" concert, which featured former Australian pacer Brett Lee. He wasn't kept in the hospital for long and was discharged soon after and is now back in training.  I spoke with Glenn and we had a nice conversation about the incident yesterday. Moving forward, it needs to be taken into account that he takes care of himself,"" McDonald was cited as telling the Sydney Evening News. ""We've given him the opportunity to rest and rehab in that period of time and I suppose the lessons for him around that would be to take up his end of the bargain in that space and take care of himself."" Maxwell was rested for next month's three-match ODI series against the West Indies at home and he took the opportunity to attend a golf event in Adelaide before the incident took place."Glenn Maxwell should play cricket for Australia for the next three to four years, in our opinion. Is he going to be able to attend the 2027 World Cup in South Africa? Who knows? However, he's an important member of our white-ball teams," McDonald remarked.   "We're a much better team when he plays, and because of the terrible injury he sustained, some management measures will be implemented around him.   But for as long as possible, we want Glenn Maxwell to play for Australia. We're going to have to do our end, and Glenn is no doubt going to have to hold up his end of the bargain." This is not Maxwell's first experience.Maxwell was sidelined for months by this for the Australian team. In a bizarre accident that occurred in November of last year, he also suffered bruises and head injuries after falling from the back of a golf cart.   "From his and our perspectives, it's not ideal that the night ended the way it did, given all the information he's provided and the fact that he's had a few drinks. It's a sincere error," McDonald remarked.   "Of course, he needs to examine what he's doing on his end and determine whether it's the appropriate course of action at that particular moment. Fortunately, it doesn't cause any harm. He is now well." Maxwell has not yet participated in a limited-overs cricket match for Australia since his team's November return from India.Following his performance as the third-highest run scorer for Australia in the record-tying sixth edition of the ODI World Cup in India, Maxwell took part in a three-match T20I series in India and then played in the Big Bash League.   He ended as the Stars' second-highest run scorer, and starting on February 9, the West Indies T20Is are expected to see him maintain his impressive form.

‘January 22 will be etched in our memories’: PM Modi after inaugurating Ram Mandir in Ayodhya

Speaking on the Ram Temple ‘Pran Pratishtha’, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that it will be etched in our memories for years to come. In a post on X, Modi wrote, “What we saw in Ayodhya yesterday, 22nd January, will be etched in our memories for years to come."Earlier on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the ceremony, unveiling the Ram Lalla idol during the hour-long rituals.  During his address to the dignitaries at the Pran Pratishtha ceremony, Prime Minister Modi emphasized that the unveiling of the Ram Lalla idol signifies not only a moment of victory following a protracted struggle but also one of humility. This is not just a moment of celebration for us all but also one to reflect the coming of age of the Indian society. This occasion is as much about triumph as it is about humility. The world is replete with instances of countries that faced a lot of difficulties resolving historic wrongs and injustices. However, the way we untied the knots and resolved all outstanding issues gives us hope that our future is going to be more beautiful and fulfilling than our past," PM Modi said. The Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Mandir, constructed in the traditional Nagara style, boasts dimensions of 380 feet in length (east-west), 250 feet in width, and 161 feet in height. It is supported by a total of 392 pillars and 44 doors. The pillars and walls of the temple are adorned with intricately sculpted depictions of Hindu deities, Gods, and Goddesses. Within the main sanctum sanctorum on the ground floor, the idol of Shri Ramlalla, representing the childhood form of Bhagwan Shri Ram, has been reverently placed. As the whole nation is celebrating the Pran Pratishtha ceremony held at Ram temple in Ayodhya, several politicians, leaders, and celebrities extended their wishes to the people. Referring to the consecration ceremony, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said, “500 years of slavery have ended today. India has shown that anything is possible in this country. I have full faith that Ram Rajya has begun now." He also showered praises for PM Modi. However, on being asked about Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's remarks in the Nagaon attacks, Himanta Biswa Sarma sidelined the question by referring to the Wayanad MP as ‘Ravan’.  

The Mega Ayodhya Ram Temple Inauguration

Ayodhya: Prime Minister Narendra Modi presided over the consecration ceremony of the Ram Lalla idol at the recently constructed temple on Monday, drawing in about 9,500 invitees, including 4,000 saints, a galactic cast of businessmen, actors, and celebrities. Special black granite from Karnataka was used to make the 51-inch Ram Lalla idol. HS Venkatesh, Director of the National Institute of Rock Mechanics (NIRM) in Bengaluru, attested to the stone's 2.5 billion-year age. There are 44 doors and 392 pillars supporting the Nagara-style temple. The pillars and walls of the temple showcase intricately sculpted depictions of Hindu deities, Gods, and Goddesses.The ornate temple was constructed at an estimated cost of ₹ 1,800 crore, which the project's supporters claim was funded by public donations. Approximately 2,500 musicians entertained the throngs of pilgrims around the temple on over 100 stages. Among the other Indian film celebrities who attended the ceremony were Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Rajinikanth, Chiranjeevi, Ram Charan, Alia Bhatt, Ranbir Kapoor, Vicky Kaushal, Katrina Kaif, Rohit Shetty, and Rajkumar Hirani. The Ayodhya airport, which was constructed in an unprecedented 20 months ahead of schedule for the major temple ceremony, saw the arrival of over 100 charter aircraft. They were stationed at airports in Gorakhpur, Prayagraj, and Lucknow. Around 20,000 packets of 'mahaprasad' were prepared to distribute among the invitees and devotees. The packets, say reports, contained gur ki revdi, ghee  

North Indias hard weather and fog causing havoc

Veteran BCCI administrator Ratnakar Shetty says the board need to follow the advice of the technical committee headed by Sunil Gavaskar from ten years ago and refrain from holding any First-Class matches in the northern region of the nation between December 15 and January 15.The current Ranji Trophy included two matches at Jammu's Hostel Ground. Due to low visibility, only 107.3 overs were bowled in eight days. On the first three days of the second round match between Delhi and Jammu & Kashmir, only two overs could be played.There are other parts of the country suffering from the visibility-impairing fog besides Jammu & Kashmir. There were just 42 potential overs in the Haryana vs Rajasthan first-round match at Lahli. Merely 159.3 overs were bowled in the first round encounter between Chandigarh and Railways at the Sector 16 Cricket Stadium in Chandigarh, while only 26 overs could be played in the third round match between Gujarat and Chandigarh.The Ranji Trophy has been interrupted by the winter fog in northern India once more, leaving coaches and players to wonder why the matches are being played in low visibility and frequently damp outfield conditions.There have been overs and even days without a ball being bowled in matches over the first several rounds of the Ranji season, including the current third round in Delhi, Meerut, Chandigarh, Jammu, Lahli, Kanpur, and Mullanpur. The BCCI has been unable to come up with a workable solution for this long-standing issue.Teams have once again provided the Indian board with a list of potential fixes in case the crucial points are missed before the schedule is finalized for the upcoming campaign. Sunil Joshi, the head coach of Uttar Pradesh and a former spinner for India, believes that home games for the respective teams should be played later in the tournament and that north India should be left off of the schedule during the dead of winter."Look, in big tournaments like the Ranji Trophy, teams suffer losses if the matches are not completed," Joshi stated to ESPNcricinfo. "My recommendation is that, in situations where there is a lot of fog (or smog, in certain cases), north Indian teams should play their home matches in February, when the fog usually clears off. You'll be able to observe how many games during the previous two rounds were impacted by poor visibility or fog."In the most recent round, three matches—Uttar Pradesh vs. Bihar in Meerut, Punjab vs. Tripura in Mohali, and Chandigarh vs. Gujarat in Chandigarh—saw not a single ball bowled on the opening day, and Services vs. Jharkhand in Delhi, at the Palam stadium near the airport, began more than an hour late. Similar to this, during the first two rounds, there were time losses in the following matches: Uttar Pradesh vs. Bengal in Kanpur; Railways vs. Punjab in Mullanpur; Jammu & Kashmir vs. Delhi in Jammu; Chandigarh vs. Railways in Chandigarh; Jammu & Kashmir vs. Himachal Pradesh in Jammu; and Services vs. Rajasthan in Delhi. Late arrivals also had an impact on matches in Patna and other eastern Indian cities.Two of these matches, J&K against Delhi and Haryana vs Rajasthan, resulted in no innings being finished. Evidently, there were points lost or not won, which will affect the teams' ability to advance to the following round. The Rajasthan coach, Anshu Jain, stated, "It would have been better if our matches in north India were held after January." In their debut match, played in Rohtak, Haryana, there were only 42 overs played. In their second match, they played 277.1 overs in Delhi against Services. This has already impacted two of our matches. Everyone is aware that fog exists in northern India during this season of the year. This would not have been an issue if we had been playing at our home  field in Jaipur, where the players would have had more opportunities to spend time on the field rather than in the pavilion. "I'm not advocating that the Ranji Trophy begin in October. That time, it was really hot, so this will make Even though the weather is constantly changing, it's widely accepted that it clears up towards the end of January, which makes it simpler to finish 90 overs a day in north India. "The Ranji Trophy cannot be held earlier as the [T20] Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and [one-day] Vijay Hazare Trophy are now held earlier due to the IPL auctions," Rajat Paliwal, the captain of the Services, stated. "Yes, it is preferable if the matches take place in south or west India throughout the first three rounds. We lost every day by 15 to 20 overs in our most recent encounter. Jammu saw very few overs being played, while the Delhi match (Arun Jaitley Stadium) was also impacted." Since it's India's premier first-class tournament and winning the Ranji Trophy is still highly regarded despite the IPL and other events, the other teams' concerns are still genuine. Whether a solution exists or not, nobody enjoys losing points that could be earned through lawful means.  

Fashion behemoth H&M removes an advertisement following allegations that it sexualized minors

Swedish company issues an apology after an internet criticism to an Australian commercial campaign.The Swedish retail behemoth H&M has removed an ad for school uniforms following accusations that it sexualized young girls."Make those heads turn in H&M's Back to School fashion" was the slogan of an Australian ad campaign that showed two young girls wearing school uniforms.A representative for H&M stated on Monday, "We have removed this ad." "We sincerely apologize for any offense this has caused, and we are investigating how we present campaigns in the future."Following accusations on social media that the clothing line was sexualizing young girls, the decision was made. Melinda Tankard Reist, an Australian author well-known for her anti-pornography campaigns, stated in a post on X that "the little girls’ parents generally prefer heads don’t 'turn' when others see their daughters walking to school, on a bus, or in class. ""Why would you want to support the notion that young females should flaunt their appearance, physical attributes, and sense of style? Could you perhaps speak with your marketing staff and come up with something that doesn't highlight the difficulties pre-pubescent girls already have in thriving in a society that elevates "lookism" as a desirable quality?This outcry is the most recent in a string of disputes concerning the advertising tactics of fashion labels. A commercial that featured a model standing among debris and mannequins covered in shrouds was pulled by Zara last month due to criticism on social media from people who felt it was insensitive to the victims of the Gaza War.The high-end fashion brand Balenciaga, located in Paris, issued an apology last year for advertisements that showed kids clutching teddy bears dressed like slaves and a copy of a Supreme Court ruling upholding the prohibition on child pornography.  

The FMCG sector in India is more robust than it is globally.

According to Sudhir Sitapati, FMCG is the biggest advertiser in India by a wide margin, and advertising is essential to the FMCG sector.According to Sudhir Sitapati, CEO and MD of Godrej Consumer Products, the FMCG business in India is stronger than it is globally, and advertising is the driving force behind this."The FMCG business depends heavily on advertising, and it continues to be the biggest spender on advertising in India. In my opinion, the FMCG industry in India is stronger than it is globally, with advertising playing a major role in this. the top 5 FMCG firms on the list. Speaking at the recently held Subhas Ghosal memorial lecture, Sitapati stated, "Their EBITDA is on average 20–25 percent compared with their global peers at 15-20 percent, and they list at 60X P/E multiples vs. 20X for their global peers."Sitapati thinks that if businesses identify a trend that would propel their share values over the next 12 to 36 months, they will be willing to pay advertising firms, as FMCG is the industry in India that spends the most on advertising.Sitapati made the argument that people in charge of profit and loss, not those in charge of advertising budgets, are the true clients of advertising companies."Even though it meant sacrificing profitability, the first thing I did when I joined GCPL two years ago was drastically raise advertising spending. Two realizations influenced my personal views on advertising. As the brand manager for Surf Excel, I saw that our sales rates increased a few weeks after a measure dubbed "Proven ad recall" on our Milward Brown brand tracker increased. Put differently, a customer only needed to be able to tell the ad's tale on the spot to beg for further purchases. This idea, in my opinion, should "be famous before you get persuasive." Be renowned for what you sell, don't try to sell," he said."It is better to whisper to many than to shout to a few" has been his second advertising philosophy, and it has to do with the media.brand encroachment He went on to say that penetration, not consumption, is what spurs growth, saying, "My favorite brand in India is Santoor from Wipro. It has bravely kept to large-scale wall murals in order to reach extremely light TV viewers in rural India, all while adhering to its big notion of "Mistaken Identity" for years. Fame > persuasion because salience, not equity attributes, drives penetration, and salience is fueled by having your brand mentally accessible to as many individuals as possible. Regarding media, reach—rather than impact—is what counts, he stated.For a marketing and advertising agency, Sudhir said, building a database is essential because customers want to see figures.  

Meta Allows EU Users to Access Instagram, Facebook, Messenger Separately to Comply With Regulations

"Users in the European Union, European Economic Area, and Switzerland will be able to disable information sharing across all of Facebook parent company Meta's apps. Residents in these areas will therefore be able to use Facebook and Instagram independently, even if they are linked on the network. In the meanwhile, Meta is going to alter the way messaging functions on its Marketplace platform and enable users to create a Messenger account that is separate from their Facebook account.  Users in the EU, EEA, and Switzerland who have already linked their Facebook and Instagram accounts can keep using them or unlink them ""so that their information is no longer used across accounts,"" according to a detailed post from the company outlining the changes being made to comply with regulations — the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA) — that Meta and other businesses must comply with.  A month after cross-app chats between Instagram and Messenger were disabled, Meta made its announcement. Three years after CEO Mark Zuckerberg declared that Meta would enable cross-platform chat, the company restricted messaging to individual platforms. In December, it also enabled support for Messenger's end-to-end encrypted (E2EE) chats.  "

Paytm Credit Card on UPI enables effortless daily transactions like payments on grocery stores, chai shops

With just a smartphone, users can easily make UPI payments via credit cards on the Paytm app, powered by Paytm Payments Bank. The convenience of digital transactions have become a fundamental aspect of our daily lives in today’s fast paced world. One such transformative force in the digital payment landscape is the integration of UPI payments through credit cards on the Paytm app. Making small payments of ₹10 to ₹100 bucks through credit at your nearby Kirana stores or a local chai shop or even a chat shop has evolved into the ultimate and convenient payment method for users. This groundbreaking feature offers users the convenience of utilizing credit for routine payments, eliminating the need to rely solely on savings accounts and carrying the card everywhere. With just a smartphone, users can easily make UPI payments via credit cards on the Paytm app, powered by Paytm Payments Bank.   Users simply need to link their Rupay Credit Card to UPI through a straightforward process with quick and easy steps. The Credit Card on UPI feature allows users to scan merchant QR codes, allowing them to earn reward points with every transaction.With millions of merchants now accepting payments via credit cards on UPI, this can have a significant impact on the payment landscape.   This integration of RuPay Credit Cards on UPI not only expands credit card usage for customers but also supports merchants in the credit ecosystem through assets like QR codes. The increasing acceptance of RuPay credit cards on UPI contributes to financial inclusion, benefiting merchants and businesses across India.  Paytm Payments Bank remains at the forefront of innovation, driving the adoption of UPI payments with credit cards, and envisions a future where this technology reshapes the dynamics of the payment ecosystem in India.  

Samsung teases the Galaxy Ring, its newest fitness device

At the recently concluded Galaxy Unpacked event, Samsung unveiled the name and design of the Galaxy Ring, an upcoming smart ring that might offer features similar to the Galaxy Watch. Here's everything we know so far about the new device After months of speculations and rumours, Samsung has officially confirmed the existence of the Galaxy Ring. Teased at the very end of the recently concluded Galaxy Unpacked event, Samsung said that the smart ring is a “powerful and accessible” health and wellness device.At the event, Samsung only revealed the name and design of the upcoming wearable. However, chances are that Samsung will follow in the footsteps of other smart rings and offer fitness tracking features like heart rate monitoring, blood oxygen level, sleep tracking and step counter. According to Dr Matthew Wiggins, a clinical research scientist at Samsung Research, the Samsung Health app will soon get features like monitoring potential sleep apnea symptoms using sleep tracking algorithms, maintaining heart rate alerts in sleep and some changes to blood oxygen powered by Galaxy AI. He also teased a Fitbit-like feature called ‘My Vitality Score’, which tracks users track their physical readiness and mental preparedness based on their heart rate data, activity and sleep. A future update to the app will also remind users about medications they need to take and warn them about potential interactions with foods and other medications they might be on, hinting that the Galaxy Ring will also get these features apart from the standard fitness tracking functionalities the company offers with its smartwatch.Samsung said that the Galaxy Ring will be “coming soon”, but did not reveal information about the price and launch date. But if we take a look at some of the most popular smart rings available in the market like the Oura Ring 3, the Galaxy Ring might likely cost somewhere around $300.